Adjustable stairway element

ABSTRACT

A construction element having a bridge-like portion of which first and second pillars are provided on the lower part thereof with a plurality of steps. The second pillar being connected by an inclined part to a channel-like portion provided with an outer edge.

The invention refers to a constructional unit for stairs.

Chiefly in the case of layouts of gardens which are not level and ofterrace structures, stairs are required having steps of differentheights.

In the Swiss Pat. No. 475 445 a set of constructional units for stairsis disclosed, in which the step height of a flight of stairs can byalteration of the position of a rectangular step unit be adjustedaccording to two different values. In addition the slope of the staircan also be varied a little by the tread being allowed to project beyondthe step unit to a greater or less extent.

The Swiss Pat. No. 485 931 describes a stair having an adjustable slope,in which transversely to the direction of the stair there is provided atoothed moulded concrete part and the tread unit is connected directlyor via a corepiece to the set of teeth to be secure against shifting.

The problem underlying the constructional unit for stairs, in accordancewith the invention, is to create a standard unit which enables the stepheight of a flight of stairs to be adjusted here and there by means ofsets of teeth to different values up to approximately twice the height,and such standard units may also be laid together in such a way that thestep height becomes equal to zero, i.e., that the treads form together alevel area which may be provided as a landing.

In the drawing an embodiment of the object of the invention isillustrated. There is shown in:

FIG. 1--a portion of a flight of stairs rising from the left, inperspective; and

FIG. 2--three constructional units for stairs laid together into alanding.

The constructional unit la for stairs exhibits as a standard unit incross-section a stirrup-like bridge portion 2 and a connecting troughportion 3. On top the bridge portion 2 is made as a tread the angle atthe corners of which amounts to 90°. A first bridge pier 5 of the bridgeportion 2 exhibits on the underside of it tooth-like shoulders 6 whichare bounded by vertical and horizontal planes. A second bridge pier 7 ofthe bridge portion 2 is connected at the bottom by an oblique portion 8to the trough portion 3. The latter is bounded by an outer edge 9standing upright.

In the case of the portion of a flight of stairs rising from the left asin FIG. 1, for the formation of a medium step height a secondconstructional unit 1b for stairs is laid upon two first constructionalunits 1a for stairs, lying side by side. The first bridge pier 5 of thesecond constructional unit 1b for stairs is seated by one of itsshoulders 6 on the rear corner portion 10 of the treads 4 of the firsttwo constructional units 1a for stairs. In a corresponding manner thesame shoulder 6 of the second bridge pier 7 comes to lie on the regionof the outer upper corner 11 of the outer edge 9 of the firstconstructional units 1a.

The shoulders 6 are so directed that the second upper constructionalunit 1b for stairs cannot be shifted in the descending direction of theflight of stairs. In addition a cutout 12 is provided at the side in thetrough portion 3, which serves for correction of the position of theconstructional unit for stairs.

The shoulders 6 of the bridge piers 5, 7 enable an optional setting ofthe step height up to approximately twice its value.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the flight of stairs may be made as wide as youlike by laying side by side a number of constructional units for stairs.In that case the lines of separation 13 are advantageously partiallycovered over by offsetting the constructional units for stairs which arelaid on top. It is therefore sufficient to have standard units havingonly single and double step lengths, which enables economicalproduction.

The lowermost first constructional units for stairs are laid inconcrete. Preferably the succeeding ones are installed without fixing.

The second bridge pier 7 exhibits at its mean height a projectingshoulder 14 which is at least twice as big as the bottom shoulders 6.The front lower nose portion 15 of the first bridge pier 5 of the secondconstructional unit 1b for stairs may accordingly be laid on theshoulder 14 and the underside of the tread 4 may be laid on the outeredge 9 of the trough portion 3 of the first constructional unit 1a forstairs, so that the top surfaces of the treads 4 of the constructionalunits 1a, 1b for stairs come to lie in the same plane and form a landing(FIG. 2).

The constructional unit for stairs enables the production of a flight ofstairs having ramps at the side for perambulators, shopping trolleys,etc. This unit may be shut off at the sides between the two bridge piers5 and 7.

The flight of stairs may be provided with different step heights, thestep height at the top being chosen to be the least. The flight ofstairs may also, advantageously in the case of terrace houses, be wideat the bottom and narrower towards the top. Hence it may be designed inan individual way. Depending upon the nature of the ground, correctionsmay be carried out. At required points of the flight of stairs landingsmay be erected.

If the constructional unit for stairs is provided for the constructionof tiered standing and seating, for example, for sports stadia, it isadvantageous to employ only the front part of it, omitting the parts 9,3, 8, 14.

I claim:
 1. A constructional unit for stairs, comprisinga stirrup-likebridge portion having an upper surface; said upper surface of saidbridge portion being of rectangular shape and having a corner portionlocated on the rear end of said bridge portion a trough portion,connected to said bridge portion by an oblique portion, having arectangular outer edge standing upright; a cutout located at the side ofsaid trough portion; a front bridge pier on one side of saidstirrup-like bridge portion terminating in a nose portion; said noseportion having an underside formed with tooth-like shoulders; a secondbridge pier, having on the underside thereof tooth-like shoulders on theback side of said stirrup-like bridge portion.